The British Royal Family- Page 4

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 9/30/25 at 3:54pm

Thanks, kdogg!

Having differing opinions, especially on ultimately inconsequential fluff such as "royalty" does not make me a bad person.

[Highland Guy]

Posted: 9/30/25 at 6:47pm

In my part of the world on October 5th and 12th, PBS is airing a two-part series called "Brian and Maggie".  It's a recreation of an actual TV interview between Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and politician and newcaster Brian Walden.  To quote PBS:  "Thatcher faces mounting pressure after a key alley's sudden departure; a television appearance becomes a turning point for her political career".   I doubt that any Royals will be featured.  But, for those of us with an interest in British history, something to watch.  

Updated On: 9/30/25 at 06:47 PM

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 9/30/25 at 7:12pm

Directed by Stephen Frears. Interesting.

Starring "Dame" Harriet Walter as Thatcher.
 

Also interesting to note, in the context of this thread, how she was initially reluctant to accept this royal "honor" due to her egalitarian principles. She slept on it, and decided to accept on the basis that the number of “Sir"s far outweigh the number of "Dame"s, at least historically and especially in the acting world. I'm not sure I agree, but she ended up accepting as a hurrah for feminism.

 

Updated On: 9/30/25 at 07:12 PM

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 10/3/25 at 11:08am

Interesting news from the UK today.

Prince William, the Prince of Wales, in an interview with Eugene Levy... yes, that Eugene Levy... says that he plans to reform the outdated institution of monarchy.

 

William  "Tradition has a huge part of all this, but there's also points where you look at tradition today and say is that still fit for purpose today, is that still the right thing to do..."

Eugene "It sounds like the monarchy will be shifting in a slightly different direction..."

William "I think it's safe to say that reform is on my agenda."

 

Well... seems I am more in touch with the royals than others here.

 

William "I agree fully with Jay Lerner-Z from BroadwayWorld... he is a wise man"

 

Okay, I made that last part up.

 

 

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 10/4/25 at 10:35am

The monarch of Luxembourg abdicated yesterday.

Grand Duke Henri handed over the throne to his son and heir Guillaume. Pomp, ceremony, balcony appearances… the works.

Yet not a peep from US media. What makes the Brits different?


 

 

 

Updated On: 10/4/25 at 10:35 AM

[SteveSanders]

Posted: 10/4/25 at 12:20pm

Presumably the decades of a "special relationship" between our two countries and the history accrued during that time?

It is interesting that while predictably AP and Reuters covered the Luxembourg Grand Duke's abdication, after that it falls to popular magazines including people, Town & Country, and Marie Claire ... per a quick Google search.

Updated On: 10/4/25 at 12:20 PM

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 10/4/25 at 1:21pm

Some argue the special relationship is a myth. At best it is a political contrivance. UK recently recognized the state of Palestine, so even that doesn't hold water.

Personally, I feel no special relationship with the UK. I am Irish American, and the reason there are so many Irish Americans is because Queen Victoria let half the island of Ireland stave to death. Ethnic cleansing, some say.

"Shared language" might be a better explanation, but essentially it comes down to celebrity. The British Royals are celebrities, and the Luxembourgish ones are not. Same reason last year's coronation of the new King of Denmark got little to no coverage. With King Charles III, NBC, CBS, ABC were all camped outside Buckingham Palace for a week. It irked me. A brief mention in Marie Claire is not really comparable.

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 10/29/25 at 1:02pm

Esteemed and long-running political magazine The New Statesman calls for abolition of the monarchy.

Cover story "Abolish the monarchy"

See, SteveSanders? In an attempt to paint me as an obsessive crackpot, you told me recently that you spend half your time in the UK but had never experienced any anti-monarchy feeling. 

Full article available online. Convincing argument. Thoughts, anyone?

 

 

Updated On: 10/29/25 at 01:02 PM

[SteveSanders]

Posted: 10/29/25 at 2:39pm

Jay Lerner-Z said: "See, SteveSanders? In an attempt to paint me as an obsessive crackpot, you told me recently that you spend half your time in the UK but had never experienced any anti-monarchy feeling."

I in no way attempted to paint you as "an obsessive crackpot," but you do consistently post negative content about the monarchy on a theater chatboard, albeit in an off-topic section.  Whether or not that is obsessive is in the eyes of others.

And I don't have the time to find my specific comment you're referencing above, but I think you've overgeneralized what I said.  Regardless, yes, I spend about half of my time working in the UK and anti-monarchy attitudes are hardly ever a part of any conversations in which I find myself, professionally or socially. 

I'm sure they occur regularly in some circles just as anti-Trump sentiments are present in some conversations when I am back in the States.  But it also is true that some people infrequently talk about national politics either by design or default.

Updated On: 10/29/25 at 02:39 PM

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 10/30/25 at 5:54pm

"Prince" Andrew, no longer a prince. As punishments go, this is pretty light. I guess this more about protecting the institution, though, in the event of any upcoming criminal trial. No longer a Duke, either. I guess Virginia Giuffre can finally rest at peace... or not.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/30/world/europe/uk-prince-andrew-title.html?campaign_id=60&emc=edit_na_20251030&instance_id=165467&nl=breaking-news&regi_id=67560564&segment_id=209647&user_id=a26dc2a743efbebd18f4a0f1e579bce5

[fosterfan2]

Posted: 10/31/25 at 9:14am

Good It's about damn time. This should've been done long ago.